Kijiji Scams in 2026: 8 Common Tricks and How to Spot Them

The most common Kijiji scams in 2026 are fake rentals, fake Interac e-Transfer notifications, overpayment schemes, phone verification code hijacks, "ship it to me" sellers, pet deposit scams, vehicle scams and phishing emails that pretend to be Kijiji. Almost all of them share one pattern: the scammer avoids meeting in person and tries to get money, a code or your banking login before you can verify anything. If you inspect first, pay or get paid face to face, and verify money in your own bank app, you shut down nearly every one of them.

Below is how each scam works, the tell, and what to do, based on Kijiji's own guidance, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) and Canadian news reports.

Is Kijiji safe?

Kijiji itself is a legitimate Canadian marketplace, and Kijiji says most transactions on the site are completed successfully. The risk comes from individual users. The CAFC warns that fraudsters constantly create fake ads on classified and resale sites, for everything from event tickets and puppies to electronics, rentals and motor vehicles. Its merchandise fraud page puts it bluntly: if the price is too good to be true, it is.

So Kijiji is as safe as the habits you bring to it.

Scams that target Kijiji buyers

1. Kijiji rental scams

How it works: A "landlord" posts an apartment or cottage in a great location at a below-market price. The CAFC says these ads often use photos stolen from legitimate listings and come with pressure to pay quickly. In a case reported by CBC News, Greater Sudbury Police warned that a scammer claiming to be out of town sent a fake address and interior photos, then asked renters to e-Transfer money in return for the keys.

The tell: The landlord is overseas or "unavailable," there is no in-person viewing, and they want a deposit, first month's rent or your SIN before you have stepped inside.

What to do: Kijiji's rental scam guidance says to view the property in person before paying anything, check the address on Google Maps or Street View, search it for duplicate listings and ask for a live (not pre-recorded) video tour if you can't visit yet. Never send your SIN, banking details or ID before the listing checks out.

2. Shipping-only sellers and fake escrow

How it works: The item is cheap, the seller can't meet, and they offer to ship it once you pay. Kijiji's payment scam page describes fraudsters who request upfront payment through unusual methods, sometimes insisting you stop talking to other buyers, and fake payment services that convince victims their funds are "secured" when they are not.

The tell: Payment before you see the item, a price well under market value, and requests for Western Union, MoneyGram, wire transfers or crypto.

What to do: Kijiji says plainly that it does not partner with any shipping, inspection or escrow companies. If the seller won't meet locally, walk away.

3. Pet scams

How it works: The CAFC describes ads for low-priced or free puppies and kittens. After a few messages, you are asked to send one payment after another for shipping, vaccinations, certificates or insurance. The pet never arrives.

The tell: The animal "must be shipped" from another province or country, the photos look like stock images, and each payment unlocks a new fee.

What to do: Kijiji's pet safety tips say to meet the pet in person before paying anything, avoid wire and cash-transfer services, and ask for vet records and vaccination history.

4. Vehicle scams

How it works: According to Kijiji's vehicle scam guidance, fraudsters advertise vehicles they don't own, reuse stolen photos, ask for deposits before inspections, or claim the car will be shipped after payment. On the selling side, they send counterfeit bank drafts or fake e-Transfer confirmations.

The tell: The seller is "overseas" or "deployed," won't meet, or the ownership name doesn't match their ID.

What to do: Check the VIN, pull a CARFAX Canada report, confirm the seller's name matches the ownership documents and inspect the vehicle before any money moves. If you're selling, our guide to selling a car privately in Ontario walks through the paperwork.

Scams that target Kijiji sellers

5. The fake e-Transfer scam

How it works: A buyer sends you an email or text that looks like an Interac e-Transfer notification. The CAFC warns that these messages look official, but the goal is to steal your banking credentials so the fraudster can get into your account. A variation tells you the payment is "pending" until you send a tracking number, so you ship the item and receive nothing.

The tell: A link that asks you to log in to "accept" money, a screenshot instead of a real deposit, or a story about funds being held until you do something.

What to do: Kijiji's seller safety tips say never to rely on screenshots, emails or "pending" messages. Open your banking app yourself and confirm the money has landed before you hand anything over. We cover every version of this in our fake e-Transfer scam guide.

6. Overpayment scams

How it works: The "buyer" pays more than your asking price, usually by cheque or a payment that later bounces, then asks you to send the difference to a mover, nanny or agent. Kijiji's overpayment scam page notes the original payment is discovered to be invalid or reversed after you have already forwarded real money.

The tell: Any offer above your price, any mention of a third party, and any request to send money back.

What to do: Don't deposit the suspicious payment, don't send money to anyone, stop replying and report the message on Kijiji.

7. Phone number and verification code scams

How it works: A CBC News report quoting the Better Business Bureau describes a scam aimed at sellers on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. The "buyer" asks for your phone number, often claiming they were scammed before and want to confirm you're real. They then register a Google Voice account with your number, which sends a six-digit code to your phone, and ask you to read it back. That lets them run other scams through your number.

The tell: Anyone who asks you to share a code that was texted to you. No real buyer ever needs it.

What to do: Never share a verification code with anyone. The CAFC says the same thing: never share your security (multi-factor authentication) code. Keep conversations inside Kijiji messaging.

8. Phishing "buyer" messages and fake Kijiji emails

How it works: Some messages push you to a link, a QR code or WhatsApp. Kijiji's SMS and WhatsApp scam page describes "couriers" that will supposedly pick up and pay for your item, QR codes for fake payment confirmations and sites that imitate Kijiji, PayPal or Interac. Others impersonate Kijiji itself. In September 2026, Kijiji warned about fake "account restricted" pages demanding bank details within 24 hours.

The tell: Any link that isn't https://www.kijiji.ca, urgency, and requests for passwords or card numbers.

What to do: Kijiji says it will never ask for your password, banking information or card details by email or external link, does not provide delivery services or process payments through outside links or QR codes, and identity verification (like the Interac Verified badge) is optional and started only from your own account settings. If you entered details on a fake site, change your password and call your bank right away.

Kijiji scam red-flag checklist

What Kijiji recommends

Kijiji's core safety tips come down to a few habits:

• Meet locally in a busy, well-lit public place, during daylight if you can, and tell someone where you're going.
• Inspect the item before paying, and be cautious of anyone who wants money before meeting.
• Sellers: confirm payment directly with your bank, never through an email or text confirmation.
• Avoid wire transfers, which are hard to recover.
• Don't share banking information, card numbers, your SIN or driver's licence details in chat.

For in-person swaps, a police-run exchange spot is ideal. Here's our list of safe exchange zones in the GTA.

Payment is where most deals go wrong, because cash is awkward for big amounts and an e-Transfer sent before inspection is hard to get back. One option is LockNDeal: the buyer locks the payment before the meetup, the money is held while they inspect the item, and the seller is only paid once the buyer enters the seller's 4-digit code. The buyer can get a full refund before the code is entered, and the seller knows the funds are real before handing anything over.

How to report a scam on Kijiji

Kijiji's reporting guide lays out the steps:

1. On kijiji.ca, open the listing, scroll to the bottom and click Report Ad under "Listed By." In the app, tap Report Listing.
2. Pick the reason that fits best.
3. Add specifics in the "Tell us more" field.
4. Submit.

Kijiji's Trust and Safety team reviews each report, including account and listing history that isn't public. Listings aren't removed automatically, so a report won't make an ad vanish instantly.

What to do if you've already been scammed

1. Call your bank or card issuer immediately. Tell them it's fraud and ask what can be stopped. Our explainer on whether an e-Transfer can be reversed covers what is realistic.
2. Change your passwords if you clicked a link or entered login details anywhere.
3. Save everything: messages, the listing, usernames, payment records.
4. Report it to your local police and to the CAFC. The CAFC's reporting page points to reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca, where you can report online (anonymously if you prefer), or call 1-888-495-8501.
5. Report the ad and the user on Kijiji so others don't get hit.

The same playbook works on other platforms. Our complete guide to Facebook Marketplace scams in Canada covers the overlap.